Innovative students put heart into new health app for Donegal

A team of Loreto Letterkenny students have tapped into technology to spread a vital health message across Donegal.

The ‘Heart2Heart’ Young Social Innovators team are aiming to make a major impact in the community with their new app, My Heart Space, which was launched on Friday.

The android app is a well-thought-out space for mobile users to save emergency contacts, locate public defibrillators in Donegal, track their steps and learn about heart health.

The fun and educational app was designed to appeal to all ages, from 13 up, and it even includes a ‘Flappy Heart’ game to encourage daily usage.

‘You can’t bí without your croí’ is the motto of the YSI Heart2Heart team, who are competing in the YSI national final next week. The 11 students have put in a great effort this year to promote healthy hearts and prevent heart fatalities by spreading information in their school, in the community and on social media.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Ireland, student Sarah Gallagher told invited guests at the app launch in Loreto Letterkenny.

Sarah outlined the potential life-saving impact the app can have – which points users to their nearest health service, defibrillators and enables emergency calls.

The app was developed by Adrian Mullally of Gartan Technologies, who was a much-valued contributor to the project.

The My Heart Space app is not the only aspect of this YSI initiative, as the team have created information posters, promoted CPR training and launched a campaign to have First Aid introduced to the Junior Certificate curriculum.

The Heart2Heart team will present their work for the finale of the Young Social Innovators of the Year Awards on Wednesday 15th May in Croke Park.

The future is bright for this passionate team, said YSI Mentor MS Siobhan McKeague.

“Even if they don’t win the final, which I hope they do, they have already won because they have produced an app that is needed in the locality and they have produced leaflets to put up around the locality. I am extremely proud of these ladies because they have done it themselves. It is a credit to them because they have pushed past the barriers,” Ms McKeague said.

Loreto Letterkenny Principal Sr Gerardine Mullen also praised the students’ innovation, adding that she was proud of their important work.

Android users can download the My Heart Space app now on: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.heart2heartysi.heart2heart&hl=en

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